Swimmers Getting a Raw Deal

But here's what irks me: Why would Roland et. al be excluded from the travel team just because they don't go to nationals? Wouldn't their times from worlds be good enough to put them into consideration? I think they should get an automatic pass.Federation rules. If SA Swimming is anything like USA Swimming, the “travel teams” are chosen from nationals and Olympic Trials. To give elite swimmers a pass would be in violation of rules. We can debate the value of having nationals and Olympic Trials as the selection meet for Worlds, Olympics and other international meets, but as it stands today, at least in the USA, you must perform at the selection meet to make the team. If Phelps chooses not to go to the OT he doesn’t get a free pass to Beijing. Or if Thorpe false starts in the 400 he doesn’t…. never mind.

It is interesting to note in the article that Schoeman paid R51,000 to travel from Tucson (as I can surmise to Melbourne). That is about $7,100 USD. The coach plane fare from San Francisco to Melbourne is about $1,500 USD (and I have the receipts to verify that). The cost to travel from the west coast to RSA is about $3,000 USD in coach. (I have no idea how much it is in business class). It looks like Schoeman likes to travel in Business class (well, so do I) and I can well appreciate it as it is almost 24 hours to travel from the west coast to Melbourne and to travel from the west coast to RSA. If the rules are that you have to compete to be part of the national team, the it looks that Shoeman has to make a decision and if he cannot fly in coach, then there is no sympathy here. michael

You've got to figure Swimming SA is a little ticked off that all their big stars are training abroad and this is a way to stick it to them. If that's part of what's behind this, then that stinks. On the other hand, I can certainly undertand why they wouldn't want to foot the bill for all these swimmers. It's the swimmers' decision to train outside South Africa, after all. Maybe part of that decision should be a consideration that they'll have a much more difficult time competing in meets back home.

I was unaware that Duje had taken Qatar's offer. Scott, I will have to do some more research when I am not at work, but aside from what you have reported on TimedFinals.com (among other news outlets), there's not much else on the web. However, I do recall watching a video in the last couple weeks and seeing his name and "QAT" next to it. There's nothing mentioned of it at the race club's website either.

After reading Gull's post You know, that article never quotes RS... I wonder if he is even disgruntled. :dunno:

Jeff, In Ryk's case... he is competing at the Nationals, so his funding is safe. But, Ryk also lives in Tucson. He moved here about four months ago. And he swam in my lane the Monday after worlds, which means he flew to South Africa from Tucson, the same as Roland et. al. Is Ryk able to afford the trip more than Roland? Or is Swimming SA able/willing to pay for Ryk's trip because he spent two years in South Africa training after Athens? If SA Swimming is anything like USA Swimming, the “travel teams” are chosen from nationals and Olympic Trials. To give elite swimmers a pass would be in violation of rules. We can debate the value of having nationals and Olympic Trials as the selection meet for Worlds, Olympics and other international meets, but as it stands today, at least in the USA, you must perform at the selection meet to make the team. In 1991, those swimmers who went to worlds that January could use those times to qualify for the three international meets being selected that summer, or they could go to nationals and try for a faster time. I remember Eric Wunderlich got picked to go to Pan Pacs in the 100 *** because the time he swam at worlds was faster than the second place time from nationals (even though he swam it at nationals and went slower). I don't think that criteria was used after that year, but it shows there are exceptions that governing bodies are willing to make for the sake of their athletes.

If the rules are that you have to compete to be part of the national team, the it looks that Shoeman has to make a decision and if he cannot fly in coach, then there is no sympathy here. But swimming is his business...IMHO.

Schoeman wrote the following in December 2005 after he rejected an offer of R20m to swim for Qatar: "After serious and thorough consideration I have decided to stand by my initial decision not to swim for Qatar. I have, therefore, given instruction that the negotiations after the second approach from Qatar to swim for them should not be pursued. You will understand that this was not a simple and straightforward decision. While I fully understand the immediate financial implications of this decision, I believe and trust that solutions to this problem will be found within South Africa. I am acutely aware that South Africa is where it is today because of the sacrifice and commitment of large numbers of people over many years. As well, that the stability and democracy we have attained thus far has not been founded on pursuing short-term gains. It has been based on a willingness to seek long-term solutions to promote the well being of all the people of South Africa. I believe that this should be true for me as well. In making this choice I have reconfirmed for myself that it is of tremendous importance to me that I am part of the vibrant, challenging, frustrating, beautiful and above all hopeful country I call home. Each one of my achievements has been accompanied by a tremendously strong sense of being an integral part of something enormously meaningful. That I am an African - and more specifically a South African. Each gold medal award ceremony has been enriched beyond measure by hearing our national anthem and experiencing the unifying surge of joy and elation of the people of South Africa. There is much that remains to be done to ensure that South Africa will be a haven to all its people. I believe that sport serves to aid nation building, that it has the ability to unite people and can be used to work towards the greater good of all. It provides a vehicle that allows every person in South Africa to dream and to "believe in the impossible". I have a place to fulfil in this process. I wish to thank the many role-players who have supported me over the past number of weeks. It has meant a tremendous amount to my family and to me. It has also reconfirmed for me that South Africa is where I belong. While I am significantly poorer today than I could have been, I feel tremendously blessed that it is Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika that will be played if I win a gold medal."

I can't imagine why South Africa wouldn't pay for three of the world's best swimmers to come to their nationals, especially if they train elsewhere. But, to play devil's advocate, this would be outrageous if the USA did this. If someone like, say, Michael Phelps or Katie Hoff or even Leila Vaziri trained in another country, would we go into a fit because USAS wouldn't pay for them to attend our nationals? I wonder why it's no problem for Ryk. I'm not for or against this. But if they had been given free travel before, why have they stopped now? Especially given that Roland and Lyndon had pretty good swims at worlds. For countries like South Africa, paying for their best swimmers to come to the meet would probably bring spectators and give the sport publicity. But here's what irks me: Why would Roland et. al be excluded from the travel team just because they don't go to nationals? Wouldn't their times from worlds be good enough to put them into consideration? I think they should get an automatic pass.

We probably don't know all the facts behind this but I would bet that they are probably being punished for something they did or did not do. Remember how the AAU used to treat our athletes that did not toe the line at all times?